Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-05
there would be considerable expense at.

there womb be considerable expense NJ
tached 10 going abroad"
Money need be no object, she hur
riedly exclaimed, at the same time taking
from her pocket roll of bank notes
"Ihey're all yours They're all yours
Only take her away"
II shall do nothing of the kind, Mrs
Rossiter," / replied with some heat
"W hen your daughter and / are mar
RED we shall most certainly remnin in
London"
"Then you will do so at your peril, y
she shrieked, in great excitement.
] made no reply to this extraordinary
remark and turned to leave the room.
As did 20 she suddenly cried out:
"For Gods sake do as / ask. You
don't know how love him and what |
would do to regain his love. It's all
given TO her 10 her, with that baby
face. And j, who have nursed him,
fought for him, sinned for him, &c!
only sights and blows. Oh, God, it's
too cruel It's too cruel !"
She fell on the floor in Mysteries. /
raised her, and in a short time she re-
covered her usual composure. To my
amazement she would not take the
slightest notice of my presence and to
all my remarks maintained dignified
silence. Finding at length that / could
be of no further service / withdrew. My
attention was next claimed by an ex-
tyaordinary event that occurred one
evening. 1t was the hour of my
customary evening visit to Mrs.
Rosters house, and as i APP
preached the little gate Ella emerged
from the door and walked slowly down
the garden. Thinking to surprise her
] TUNED back and crept quietly down
little unfrequented footpath that
wound away along the margin Of the
pond, and Just underneath the hedge
that kordered Mrs. Rossiter's garden.
/ scrambled up the bank and was about
to push my way through the bushes,
when / saw something that transfixed
ME to the spot. There, within yard
Of me, stood that terrible man with his
arms round Elias neck. He was
stroking and kissing her hair, tenderly
l must admit, and at the same time ut
teIing some inarticulate sounds.
For a time / could do nothing
Words failed me / could not even
think If Ella had shown any signs
OF fear or distress | should have rushed
forward instantly to defend her. but
her manner showed no alarm whatever.
She seemed to my astonished eyes
rather to be coaxing and soothing the
creature.
Suddenly in flashed through my
mind that her manner might be merely
an attempt to humor the mailman.
The thought filled me with an agony Of
apprehension, and | was just about to
rush forward when a change in their
attitude arrested me. The man sud
denly ceased his caresses and stood
motionless, listening, with head
inclined slightly forward, in an
attitude OF rapt attention. Ella
locked anxiously at him for a minute
and then walked slowly away. About
a dozen PAGES Off she paused, hesitated,
and, to my Amusement, returned to
him. threw her arms round his neck,
kissed him again and again, and then
bunicd indoors. My proper course
was to have followed Ella for the pur
pose e seeking IN explanation. But
could not. That man filed me vita
such strange fear and loathing that
nv only desire was to be away from
him anywhere, so that | was no longer
in sight Of those horrible features.
1lere he stood, apparently uncon-
,cicus of Elias departure. His face
was buried in his hands, and from my
hiding-place | could hear the great
soils that rose from his breast. The
situation became unbearable; 50 |
noiselessly made a path for myself
through the bushes and hurriedly left
the spot.
Rapidly l walked along wherever my
STEPS should lead-aDything rather
than solitude, / said TO myself so /
plunged into the heart of London. In
Stinctiyely threading my way through
the masses of people, hurried blindly
forward--on, on, until at length, some
what to my surprise, | found myself
lust without the Enclosure OF the
lousos of Parliament. The rapid ex-
ortion had restored me to my ordi-
nary frame of mind. | paused,
md, feeling laDguid after the I'M
wCnted exercise, considered what would
lie the easiest method to reach home
I determined TO walk along the Thames
cmbankmeDt, up Bridge street, and 50
ly Harrington road TO the Metropoli-
IAN railway station. With head beEt
forward and hands clasped behind my
lack | paced along in deep thought.
eudeavoIing to bring some light to
lear upon this new phase of the mys-
terry, but could think of nothing.
Of one thing | was at least assured
Elias sincerity and purity. Whatever
she had done was right; and | would
wait patiently for her explanation. My
meditations were interrupted by an un.
pleasant sensation about the eyes. |
looked up and discovered that thick
yellow fog had suddenly descended
npon the earth, shrouding everything
in a noiscme mantle. Mentally be-
moaning my fate at being so far from
home IN such miserable weather, |
propod my way onward, stumbling now
against seat, now against the stone
arapet.
Under Waterloo Bridge the darkness
vas so intense that / could see nothing
at all but upon emerging at the other
side was suddenl Y confronted by a ter
lible spectacle. Coming toward me
was the figure of that lion-faced man,
tut fully four times higher than before,
and broad in proportion. This gigantic,
hideous creature looming through the
iog filed me with a nameless terror.
ret as ] gazed the figure grew smaller,
till be WIS no larger than the ordinary
life size. Then / remembered that his
incrcas, d stature was merely an optical
illusion produced by the fog. The
sheep on the Swiss mountains in a
mist are transformed into huge, hide
Gus beasts. But, although of the ordi-
na1y stature, his personality was the
same, and l anxiously waited his APP
proach.
He showed no surprise at my pre-
sence, and stopped SO close to me that
| could feel his hot breath on my face.
/ stood my ground, and met his gaze
with an appearance at any rate OF out
ward conposure. All at once a fire
lcaped into his eyes and he raised his
hands in the direction of my throat.